Madeleine Maire Jones

Madeleine Maire Jones

Madeleine Maire Jones passed away June 16, 2006 at Vista Del Monte Retirement Community in Santa Barbara, CA after a 15-year battle with brain cancer. She was 88. Born in Port Arthur, Texas on February 12, 1918, she was raised in La Grange, Texas. She attended the University of Texas in Austin in 1935 and graduated with a BA in Education and Mathematics. While attending the University she met her husband Dr. F. Burton Jones who was a professor of mathematics. They were married in 1936. They had four children. Madeleine was preceded in death by her husband, Burton, and daughters Phyllis Jones and Dr. Lesley Jones. She is survived by daughter Marian and husband George Silva of Santa Ynez Valley, CA, son Clay and wife Linda Jones of Waxahacie, TX, son-in-law Jim Studer of Wimberley, TX, grandsons Christopher and wife Wendy Ruppel of Seattle, WA, Michael Hawley of Santa Barbara, CA, Brian and wife Andrea Hawley of Ft. Worth, TX, Bryce Jones of Angwin, CA and Kyle Studer of Honomu, HI and great granddaughters Emily and Megan Ruppel of Seattle. Madaleine was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many people. After living in Austin and Chapel Hill, NC, she and Burton moved to Riverside, CA in 1962 where Burton was a major force in establishing the graduate program in mathematics at UC Riverside. Madeleine was very involved in the activities of the university including welcoming and assisting those faculty members visiting from other countries and in some cases providing English language instruction. She was also an accomplished weaver and was a member of the Riverside Weavers Guild. They retired to Santa Barbara in 1992. Madeleine and Burton were also very generous financially. In 1987 they endowed the F. Burton Jones Chair in the Department of Mathematics at UC Riverside and made several gifts to Vista Del Monte Retirement Community including a crafts room dedicated to Madeleine in the new assisted living facility. A Family memorial service is planned for later this summer in La Grange, TX. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that donations be made in Madeleine's name to the Vista Del Monte Resident's Assistance Fund in care of Laurie Yttri, Executive Director, 3775 Modoc Rd., Santa Barbara, CA 93105.